March 2012 Issue

Dr. Houston Davis

Dr. Houston Davis Named USG Chief Academic Officer

On February 27, Chancellor Hank Huckaby named Dr. Houston Davis as the University System of Georgia’s new chief academic officer and executive vice chancellor. Davis’ current position is vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, a system consisting of 25 universities and colleges as well as constituent agencies. He will begin his new duties in the Georgia system on May 1.

“After a national search, we are delighted to have attracted an individual of Dr. Davis’ caliber to this important position in the System,” said Huckaby. “Dr. Davis clearly stood out among the excellent candidates that were identified for his experience and his ability to provide leadership for the System’s core academic mission as we work to create a twenty-first century educational model for Georgia.”

Huckaby also commended the work of the search committee, chaired by Georgia State University President Mark Becker.

The executive vice chancellor/chief academic officer is responsible for meeting the academic needs of more than 318,000 students and approximately 13,300 University System faculty members.

The position also provides leadership to a division at the University System Office that includes academic programs and planning, faculty affairs, student affairs, teacher-education initiatives, strategic research and analysis, and information and instructional technology.

Prior to joining the Oklahoma system in 2007, Davis served as associate vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Tennessee Board of Regents (2005-2007). He worked in the field of academic leadership and on the faculty for Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tenn., (2001-2005).

Davis also worked in the areas of fiscal and academic affairs for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (1997-2001) and as a regional student recruitment and advancement representative for the University of Memphis (1995-1997).

In addition to his professional duties, he served in the role of director for the National Educational Needs Index project from 2004-2011, an initiative measuring educational, economic, and population pressures in the 50 states that influence policy and planning at local, regional, and national levels.

Davis was selected as part of the 2005 class of the National Center for Higher Education and Public Policy Associates program, a mid-career leadership opportunity for professionals engaged in policy impacting higher education.

He is involved in research projects and writing in the areas of higher education access, governance, economic development, and accountability issues in higher education and serves on several national advisory groups on higher education policy, degree completion, academic preparation, and accountability.

A native of Clarksville, Tennessee, Davis received his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Memphis and a master’s in education from Tennessee State University, Nashville.